Climate change, cities, and the poor

December 2015 — As with so many disasters and catastrophic events, the impact of climate change will strike poor and marginalized communities disproportionately, especially (but not exclusively) in the coastal cities of the developing world and in areas where drought and flooding are prevalent. In December 2015, the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21 or CMP11) will be held at the Le Bourget site in Paris, France from November 30 to December 11, 2015, aiming to reach a legally binding and universal agreement on climate. How will the urban poor figure in that agreement? What voice will they have in setting its terms and priorities? And what organizations and programs are doing work now in cities of the developing world that could inform that discussion and target its outcome for maximum impact? Join us in this month's important discussion.

Promoting cycling where gas is dirt cheap

Caracas, 31 December 2015 — It’s hard to turn down a trip in the car when gas is just $0.02 per liter. But that’s what citizens in Caracas are doing to turn around the car-focused culture. Cycle enthusiasts are taking to the streets with business ideas and social events to make the congested capital into a more bike-friendly city – all efforts that play a big role in combatting climate change. See more.

Promoting cycling where gas is dirt cheap

Caracas, 31 December 2015 — It’s hard to turn down a trip in the car when gas is just $0.02 per liter. But that’s what citizens in Caracas are doing to turn around the car-focused culture. Cycle enthusiasts are taking to the streets with business ideas and social events to make the congested capital into a more bike-friendly city – all efforts that play a big role in combatting climate change.See more.

Promoting cycling where gas is dirt cheap

Marcela Scarpellini, Caracas Community Manager

Caracas, 31 December, 2015

Climate change has taken its toll on Venezuela, even if not as strongly as it has in surrounding countries. Venezuela holds the highest record on CO2 emissions in Latin America – a record that could be linked to the fact that oil is subsidized by the government, making it available to consumers at just $0.02 per liter. The country also has the cheapest gas anywhere in the world. This, combined with the fact that government policies for combatting climate change are non-existent and the few that have been implemented are insufficient, if not blatantly contradictory, has left citizens feeling a need to take action on the ground.

Luckily, there is currently an important group of people rethinking the way in which they participate in social dynamics. They are creating alternative ways for doing so through understanding the problems infringing upon the country and its urban areas in a holistic manner. And they are coming up with solutions and proposals in different areas of urban life that have the potential to raise real awareness on the issue of climate change and provide possibilities for individual citizens to contribute through specific measures.

One important project in Venezuela’s capital city, Caracas, is part of a larger trend and movement to use non-motorized transport not just for commuting purposes but for service delivery, as well. Ecodelivery, started by a young architect Cesar Bastidas, is working to change the car-focused trend in the city by a business model focused around bicycles. Ecodelivery champions non-motorized transport and carries out city deliveries, from packages to restaurants to business transactions, using a small army of cyclists. Although the initiative is fairly new, it has already gained momentum in a city where citizens are looking for more green-focused initiatives. Ecodelivery has cycle-delivered over 6,000 packages, saving nearly 7,000 Kg/Co2 and more than 5,000 liters of gas. As importantly, Ecodelivery is encouraging other businesses and local residents to reconsider their movements in the city.

While there is a growing grassroots movement, the local government has also begun implementing policies to support alternative means of transport, even cycling. Like many cities around the world, Caracas now has a car-free Sunday on a major stretch of highway. It’s a policy supported by Urban Bike Guerillas, a group of Caracas cyclists that hits the streets in large numbers – between 80 to 100 riders at a time to take back the choking streets from endless congestion. Spin-off groups now focus on women-only rides, all efforts at influencing a movement in a country where driving is too cheap to turn down.

If both the government and citizens can continue to promote cycling in a meaningful and action-oriented way and, at the same time, implement a public transport system that provides commuters with solid alternatives, Caracas would be a very different city to get around in.

As the former mayor said in an interview, "Caracas is different if you travel it by bicycle, walking in the city is wonderful."Close.

Promoting cycling where gas is dirt cheap

Marcela Scarpellini, Caracas Community Manager

Caracas, 31 December, 2015

Climate change has taken its toll on Venezuela, even if not as strongly as it has in surrounding countries. Venezuela holds the highest record on CO2 emissions in Latin America – a record that could be linked to the fact that oil is subsidized by the government, making it available to consumers at just $0.02 per liter – the cheapest gas anywhere in the world. This, combined with the fact that government policies for combatting climate change are non-existent and the few that have been implemented are insufficient if not blatantly contradictory, has left citizens feeling a need to take action on the ground.

Luckily, there is currently an important group of people rethinking the way in which they participate in social dynamics. They are creating alternative ways for doing so through understanding the problems infringing upon the country and its urban areas in a holistic manner. And they are coming up with solutions and proposals in different areas of urban life that have the potential to raise real awareness on the issue of climate change and provide possibilities for individual citizens to contribute through specific measures.

One important project in Venezuela’s capital city, Caracas, is part of a larger trend and movement to use non-motorized transport not just for commuting purposes but for service delivery, as well. Ecodelivery, started by a young architect Cesar Bastidas, is working to change the car-focused trend in the city by a business model focused around bicycles. Ecodelivery champions non-motorized transport and carries out city deliveries, from packages to restaurants to business transactions, using a small army of cyclists. Although the initiative is fairly new, it has already gained momentum in a city where citizens are looking for more green-focused initiatives. Ecodelivery has cycle-delivered over 6,000 packages, saving nearly 7,000 Kg/Co2 and more than 5,000 liters of gas. As importantly, Ecodelivery is encouraging other businesses and local residents to reconsider their movements in the city.

While there is a growing grassroots movement, the local government has also begun implementing policies to support alternative means of transport, even cycling. Like many cities around the world, Caracas now has a car-free Sunday on a major stretch of highway. It’s a policy supported by Urban Bike Guerillas, a group of Caracas cyclists that hits the streets in large numbers – between 80 to 100 riders at a time to take back the choking streets from endless congestion. Spin-off groups now focus on women-only rides, all efforts at influencing a movement in a country where driving is too cheap to turn down.

If both the government and citizens can continue to promote cycling in a meaningful and action-oriented way and, at the same time, implement a public transport system that provides commuters with solid alternatives, Caracas would be a very different city to get around in.

As the former mayor said in an interview, "Caracas is different if you travel it by bicycle, walking in the city is wonderful."Close.

Protecting nature with collaboration in Brazil

Curitiba, 30 December 2015 — This month, leaders of 195 countries gathered in Paris at COP21, the UN Climate Conference, to establish guidelines and sign a global agreement to contain global warming – decisions that affect the lives of all, but pass mostly unnoticed. In Brazil, negotiations have become a key talking point of Observatório do Clima (OC), a network of 30 socio-environmental NGOs that has worked on mobilizing both civil society and the private sector. See more.

Protecting nature with collaboration in Brazil

Andréa Azambuja, Curitiba Community Manager

This month, leaders of 195 countries gathered in Paris at COP21, the UN Climate Conference, to establish guidelines and sign a global agreement to contain global warming – decisions that affect the lives of all, but pass mostly unnoticed. In Brazil, negotiations have become a key talking point of Observatório do Clima (OC), a network of 30 socio-environmental NGOs that gave reporters training workshops for covering the conference in person or remotely and gave special coverage of the event. Observatório's actions, however, go beyond communication.

Formed in 2002, OC not only accompanies, but influences national and international negotiations and Brazilian government positions related to climate change. With coordinated action among its affiliates, OC promotes debates and conferences that put actors in civil society, the academy, the private sector, and the government into dialogue and define social, ethnic, cultural, and economic criteria – indicators to guide both local programs and government policies. It also proposes specific actions, presses the authorities to implement these actions, monitors their implementation, and encourages the role of society with skills training and information dissemination. This year, for example, it mobilized citizens to attend the Brazilian Forum on Climate Change, a meeting organized by the federal government to submit to public consultation the National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change – an instrument that was brought to COP.

Many OC members are linked to the private sector, including through Fundação Grupo Boticário de Proteção à Natureza, which participates in its overall coordination (Forest Engineer André Ferretti, now in COP, is manager of both institutions). The organization was established in 1990 by Grupo Boticário, a cosmetics company from Paraná with main offices in Curitiba. Today, the organization figures among the main funders of environmental conservation programs in the country, having already supported 1,436 projects, an investment of approximately $10.6 million, in addition to planning their own projects, which includes the preservation of 11,000 hectares of Atlantic Forest and Cerrado (the two most threatened biomes in the country), they have also received awards for best practices in soil use and awareness and citizenship mobilization.

Fundação Boticário also operates in the area of climate change, focusing on funding scientific researches (since 2011, more than one million reais have been spent) and, together with OC, pressuring local and federal leaders. Among the latest achievements, they have released the study, "Adaptation Based in Ecosystems: Opportunities for Public Policies on Climate Change," a strategy in which "the environmental services offered by preserved ecosystems and their biodiversity are used as tools to assist communities to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change, such as droughts and floods." The document was submitted to the Ministry of Environment and ended up being used in the National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change, a significant contribution to all sectors of society, especially the vulnerable ones.

COP21 is above all an event focused on economic development. Ironically, it is likely that this is also the primary motivation of those with more power to make relevant arrangements for sustainability, especially when joining forces. While capitalism persists, there may be no other alternative. In this context, it is important to recognize the corporate culture that invests in relevant projects and professionals that are genuinely concerned with the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources, because they make the difference. As COP can also, if taken seriously. Close.

The fight against climate change in Bogota

Bogotá, 29 December 2015 — The location of Bogotá, in the middle of the Andean range and in the equatorial region, makes Colombia’s capital especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The current municipal government has launched an ambition series of plans to both combat climate change and to mitigate its effects. See more.

The fight against climate change in Bogota

Jorge Bela, Bogotá Community Manager

The fight against the impact of climate change has been one of the top priorities for the Gustavo Petro administration, which is due to end on January 1. Bogota is the only city in the region that included climate change mitigation in its general plan. Climate change-related policies have been one of the main foci for political action in the past four years, as many of the mayor’s other initiatives were becoming increasingly controversial and contested. Bogota, as well as much of Colombia, is highly vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change. It is located high in the Andean range, at 2,600 meters above sea level. This, combined with its equatorial location, results in alternate periods of flooding and extreme draught. Both have devastating effects for the city. It is, therefore, not surprising that mitigating the effects of climate change became a top priority for the city government.

The Plan de Ordenacion Territorial (POT, or general zoning plan), was heavily modified to take climate change into account. The new POT primarily seeks to densify the city, banning new construction in the rural areas, and substantially increasing the size of protected areas. As a way to foster climate change mitigation, all construction was banned in areas with even medium risk of flooding or landslides. In order to successfully implement this measure, several initiatives were launched to determine precisely where these areas are located. Public utility companies were involved in the implementation of these studies.

Perhaps one of the most far-reaching projects is the Rio Bogotá Environmental Recuperation and Flood Control Project. This project, which has a regional scope, was in part financed by the World Bank. The Bogota River used to meander across the savannah, periodically flooding its surrounding areas. As urban sprawl grew, an inadequate canal was built, and several new neighborhoods started flooding on a regular basis. The river banks are being enlarged to 40 meters (the initial canal was only 20 meters wide), and a buffer zone is being created, which can safely flood during periods of intense rain. The river bank is also being dragged, something that has been heavily criticized by conservancy groups. The administration that will take over in January has vowed to make the Bogota River the center of the city’s future expansion, under a new POT.

The outgoing administration has also launched projects geared at preventing, not mitigating, climate change. The expansion of dedicated bike lanes and the creation of improved paths for pedestrians are two examples of how non-polluting commuting solutions have been advanced. In addition, ongoing initiatives have been supported or expanded, such as the “ciclovías,” or the closing of the main arteries on Sundays to use them as public spaces for pedestrians and bikers. Also, electric and hybrid vehicles have received support from the city. Two-hundred traditional buses have been substituted for hybrids, and a pilot program, with 50 electric taxis, is currently ongoing. Close.

Urban vegetable gardens in Medellin

Medellin, 28 December 2015 — In Medellin, urban vegetables gardens address the two main challenges that cities are facing today: climate change and urban poverty. Indeed, urban agriculture has a great environmental impact, and also improves food security for poor urban dwellers. Learn here about the community gardens of Pinares de Oriente, and the project of aquaponics farming on rooftops of La Ciudad Verde. See more.

Urban vegetable gardens in Medellin

Lou D'Angelo, Medellin Community Manager

Medellin, 28 December 2015

While the COP21 is being held in Paris, cities across the globe are looking for innovative solutions to address climate change. The expected international agreement is crucial, but beyond states’ policies, we should recognize the importance of small, civil society initiatives at the local level.

Unfortunately, environmentalist movements are sometimes perceived as rich people’s concerns, and the solutions they bring at the local level can be seen as “hipster behaviors”, such as buying expensive organic food or riding a costly electric bicycle. However, eco-friendly initiatives are not restricted to the rich, and we should welcome initiatives which simultaneously address the two main challenges that cities are facing today: climate change and urban poverty. Urban vegetable gardens are one of those initiatives.

Growing fruits and vegetables in cities helps to relieve the urban heat island effect and participates in reducing food transport, packing and refrigeration. It is therefore widely applauded as a solution to address climate change at the local level. In the case of Medellin, several projects of urban agriculture benefit the poor: environmental and social issues are therefore answered by the same solution.

In Pinares de Oriente, an informal settlement on the city’s fringe, one feels both in the city and in the countryside: in the city, because the neighborhood is just 20 minutes away from the center by bus, and in the countryside, because many inhabitants of Pinares de Oriente are farmers who were displaced by the armed conflict, and they brought to Medellin their traditions from the Colombian countryside. The idea of community gardens therefore came naturally. The community initiative was helped by NGOs, universities and later by the local government, as part of the Green Belt project.

Clearly, the idea emerged because of economic reasons: the vegetables gardens aims at improving food security in the neighborhood. According to a 2010 study, 56.9% of households in Medellin suffer from food security issues: In Pinares de Oriente, urban vegetable gardens directly feed the families who take care of them, and the sale of surpluses can also generate earnings. Beyond the economic necessity, it also enables the inhabitants to preserve their traditions and identity, and according to many, it “humanizes” the city described as “an asphalt jungle”. "The community gardens are shelters in the midst of urban chaos, and these initiatives bring the city back to life," declared a gardener. The inhabitants show that rural activities - such as agriculture - can also find their place in the city: “They want to urbanize us; we want to ruralize the city”. They blame the low quality of large-scale industrial production that uses chemical products, and affirm that an alternative is possible, which would be more inclusive and more caring for the Pachamama (Mother Earth).

The vegetable gardens of Pinares de Oriente are possible thanks to the available space, as the neighborhood is located on the urban outskirts. Today, Medellin is getting denser and available grounds are growing scarce. As a community leader said, criticizing the verticalization of the city: "Medellin is growing upward, and we can’t plant in the air." How could we adapt this system of community gardens to a dense urban center?

La Ciudad Verde ("the green city"), a "think-do tank" on urban sustainability, has responded to the challenge with a project of aquaponics farming on rooftops. Aquaponics is a system that combines aquaculture (raising aquatic animals) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water). Basically, it means you’re growing vegetables above an aquarium. Why? Because the fish and the plants create an ecosystem. The fish waste provides an organic food source for the plants which purify the water the fish live in. Beyond all the previously mentioned benefits of urban agriculture, aquaponics farming enables a lower usage of water, as it is a close system, all water is recycled through the system and there is no need to change any water. The project also has social goals as it aims at giving employment to farmers who were displaced by the armed conflict and at providing the urban poor with cheaper food. Situated on rooftops, these vegetable gardens also revalorize under-utilized urban space. So far, only pilot projects have been launched, but the organization plans to launch its first aquaponics farming on the rooftop of the Pablo Tobón Uribe theatre.

Those examples show that the success of an environmental public policy lies in the inclusion of social goals, an idea already well understood by the civil society in Medellin, as we could see with these socially inclusive initiatives for sustainable development.Close.

Recycling plastic to solve perennial flooding

Accra, 23 December 2015 — Accra has been bearing the brunt of climate change through periodic flooding. This is because of the improper disposal of plastic waste on the streets, which tends to choke drainage systems, impeding the flow of torrential rains and causing flooding. The Accra Composite and Recycling Plant (ACARP) has been collecting and recycling these plastic materials into products that are being used locally and globally. See more.

Recycling plastic to solve perennial flooding

Ortis Yankey, Accra Community Manager

Issues of climate change have featured predominantly in world global discussions over the years. According to the World Bank Development Report 2010, Development and Climate, the effect of climate change will be inescapable, and developing countries will bear the brunt of climate change. Forums such as the Kyoto Protocol, which ended in 2012, and the Paris COP 21 provide platforms for world leaders to discuss climate change policies and ways of mitigating its effect.

The city of Accra has been bearing the brunt of climate change over the years. Perennial flooding in Accra is a common phenomenon leading to the loss of lives and properties. In June 2015, flood and fire disaster in Accra led to the tragic death of over 200 people and the loss of millions worth of properties. The occurrence of perennial flooding is attributed to small sizes of drainage systems, which are mostly choked with plastic waste and other garbage. Inappropriate disposal of plastic materials on streets, instead of in waste bins, is very common. And due to the effect of climate change, Accra has been experiencing torrential rains, which tend to sweep these plastic wastes into drainage systems, impeding the free flow of rain water and causing flooding.

As a policy tool, the Accra Composite and Recycling Plant (ACARP), a public-private partnership with the government of Ghana, has been at the forefront of collecting the Accra municipal waste and plastic materials and recycling them to produce high quality organic composite for agriculture purposes. Since its establishment in 2012, it has been collecting, sorting, processing, and recycling solid and liquid waste to produce organic manure for agronomic purposes. It also produces high quality pelletized plastics as raw materials to some local industries in Ghana for further production into various plastic items. In addition, other recovered materials such as textiles, packaging materials and other highly combustible materials are also used for the manufacturing of high calorific burning materials for specific industries. It also exports some of the recycled materials to China and Malaysia for further production into textiles, film, and carpets.

On average, approximately 600 metric tons per day of municipal solid waste in Accra is sent to the plant to be recycled. This constitutes approximately 50 percent of the total waste collected in Accra, which would have otherwise ended up on landfill sites and drainage systems due to improper disposal. The company’s activities of recycling solid, liquid, and plastic waste contribute significantly to reducing excessive greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time helping in reducing periodic flooding. The company is also the first in Ghana to qualify for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) claims on carbon credits, which is one of the flexible adaption policies adopted under the Kyoto Protocol. This provides an alternative source of revenue for the company to trade carbon credit. In no small way, the firm is contributing significantly in reducing the overhaul of plastic waste that engulfs our streets. Close.

Addressing climate change in desert areas surrounding Cairo

Cairo, 22 December 2015 — The Desert Research Center is a comprehensive and one-stop research and training center, which aims at serving desert reclamation and developing policies for this purpose in Cairo. Another aim is to serve local and international communities in promoting the livelihoods of people in these areas and to address climate change. See more.

Addressing climate change in desert areas surrounding Cairo

Shaima Abulhajj, Cairo Community Manager

Cairo, 22 December 2015

Cairo is not far from the negative impacts of climate change and environmental transformation. A recent report by the Climate Institute said that if climate change continues unabated, it threatens to impose serious environmental devastation upon Egypt. It also threatens to upend the precarious balance of water allocation between Egypt and the other states bordering the Nile. Moreover, the agricultural production is estimated to decrease by eight to 47 percent by 2060, with reductions in agriculture-related employment of up to 39 percent. The poor people will be the most affected of climate change, says the United Nations Development Programme, as it will lead to higher concentrations of people and heat stress, which may result in approximately 2,000 more deaths per year, mostly among underprivileged people.

To combat these repercussions, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation in Egypt established the Desert Research Center over four decades ago. The center conducts scientific research, studies, and technological activities to serve desert reclamation and development policies in Egypt. It aims also to help local and international communities in promoting the livelihoods of people in these areas.

The center holds training programs with other regional centers and urban development organizations, as well as university research institutes in order to share the best practices in regard to decreasing desertification and alleviating the impacts of the climate change and global warming.

The center has diversified activities serving its goals and vision, including but not limited to performing scientific research, basic studies and applied research in various fields related to the development and management of natural resources (such as water, soil, plants, animals and non-conventional energy) in deserts surrounding Cairo, in addition to studying the phenomenon of desertification (drought) and the movement of sand dunes, as well as carrying out experiments to develop methods and procedures of combating and fighting desertification and to avoid its impact. The center also is participating in laying down scientific plans for land reclamation according to the findings of research and studies conducted by the center within the framework of the state public policy in this field.

The center is disseminating and circulating research results and getting benefits from them by providing consultancy and services to communities in desert areas in order to develop production of agricultural lands. It holds many training sessions targeting the graduates of universities and higher institutes on the methods of scientific research to support the various needs of the government agencies and private sectors in the field of desert development and climate change. On the other hand, the center is collecting, sorting and classifying information related to the natural resources of the deserts surrounding Cairo and around Egypt to benefit from these sources. On other hand, the field officers of the Center have the right to report on any attempt of illegal construction on green lands and agriculture fields around Cairo paving the way for sustainable agriculture, ensuring food security for poor people and maintaining the green areas, which help in reducing global warming and high temperatures in the city.

Undoubtedly, the center's efforts and plans has positively contributing to the government's efforts to reduce poverty and alleviate the negative impacts of the climate changes, including the decline in the agricultural areas which threatens food security for the poor and enhances the life quality for the people living in Greater Cairo. Close.

Delhi's informal waste recyclers reduce ill effects of climate change

Delhi, 21 December 2015 — Instead of being victims, what if the urban poor were to become the frontrunners of solutions to combat the ill effects of climate change? What if they could become change agents for improving the quality of life for, not just themselves, but all urban residents? This is exactly the reversal of roles NGO Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group has explored through its support to informal sector waste-recyclers in Delhi. See more.

Delhi's informal waste recyclers reduce ill effects of climate change

Mukta Naik, Delhi Community Manager

Delhi, 21 December 2015

In India, cities produce staggering amounts of waste—Delhi alone needs to deal with over 9200 metric tonnes of solid waste a year—and spend anywhere between 10-50 percent of their municipal budgets managing it. Much of this waste ends up in landfills that emit greenhouse gases over years to come and waste-to-energy plants that are more often than not, inefficient and polluting. Instead, Delhi would benefit substantially from waste management strategies that focus on recycling and composting. In fact, effective waste management is a key element in India’s strategy of reducing carbon emissions while keeping economic growth on track, a delicate balancing act that has dominated climate talks starting with the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 and carrying onto the recently concluded COP21 discussions in Paris.

This is where informal sector waste recyclers come in. Delhi has over 100,000 waste workers who collect, sort, and transport waste free of cost with the objective of recovering and selling recyclable materials. A study Chintan conducted in 2009 found that the recycling efforts of Delhi’s informal waste workers reduced emissions by an estimated 962,133 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents per year. That’s like taking 176,215 passenger vehicles off the road, a particularly evocative comparison at a time when Delhi is struggling with a crisis in terms of air quality and resultant conditions of poor health among its citizens.

These savings come at no cost to the government, yet the system doesn’t formally recognize or credit informal sector recyclers who are unable to improve efficiencies and capacities, or increase their potential to earn. Chintan recognized this and as early as in 2002, began to work with a Delhi-based collective of waste recyclers that comprised waste pickers, doorstep waste collectors, small buyers, small junk dealers, and other types of recyclers. With Chintan’s support, this collective of about 12,000 adult workers was registered by the name Safai Sena or an Army of Cleaners in 2009. Safai Sena has worked hard for informal waste workers to be acknowledged as important urban actors by the state, and members dream of upgrading their work to respectable, safe, and recognized “green” jobs. A similar process of extensive research and cooperation resulted in the creation of 4R, an association of electronic waste recyclers.

Besides being an effective advocacy partner of informal waste recyclers, Chintan’s close involvement with policymaking has resulted in a few important wins. For instance, new e-waste legislation in Delhi, the E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, provides for local kabaris to handle e-waste if they formalize through an association or company and take requisite permissions. A 10-30 percent gain in the incomes of wastepickers trained in dealing with e-waste has been an added benefit.

Global recognition for this powerful narrative of arresting climate change through empowering the informal sector to handle e-waste came at COP21 in Paris, where 35-year old wastepicker Mohammad Khokhan Hamid of Safai Sena received the UN Climate Solutions Award, and Chintan bagged the 2015 United Nations Momentum for Change Award in the Urban Poor category. “Over the past four years, we have diverted 25 tonnes of electronic waste for recycling instead of going straight into the landfills,” said Chitra Mukherjee, Head of Programmes at Chintan as she accepted the award in Paris, even as she emphasized the need for consumption patterns to shift from new to recycled products. The momentum of policy advocacy and participatory change created by organizations like Safai Sena and Chintan must continue if the world is to achieve its sustainability targets. Close.

Global crises, local resilience: From COP 21 back to reality

Johannesburg, 18 December 2015 — In South African cities, climate awareness has increasingly become a part of mainstream political discourse. However, with few exceptions, these climate strategies tend to be a projection of "first world" norms, overly narrow in their scope, and similarly do not engage the socio-political and human rights issues that they are confronted by in their local contexts. In a diverse Johannesburg neighborhood, the Brixton Community Forum organized an event to engage all stakeholders to find ways to creatively build water-sensitive public and domestic spaces in city-identified densification zones. See more.

For South Africa like other countries of the south most affected by climate change, however, their plans rely on finance from the U.S. and other industrialized nations largely responsible for climate change, around which the Paris deal provides "no basis for any liability or compensation." Controversially, less than an estimated 15 percent of what vulnerable countries will need by 2020 will therefore be "mobilized" by industrialized nations for both emissions cuts and adaptation measures. The insufficient, vague, and non-mandatory nature of the agreements, as well as the marginalization from the text of human rights issues impacted by climate change, means that much of the responsibility, local relevance and realization of COP 21 ambitions will ultimately fall back on local translation and initiative.

In South African cities, climate awareness has increasingly become a part of mainstream political discourse. However, with few exceptions (such as the BRT initiative which combines low carbon aims with socio-spatial city restructuring), these climate strategies tend to be a projection of "first world" norms, overly narrow in their scope, and similarly do not engage the socio-political and human rights issues that they are confronted by in their local contexts. Resilience, rather than sustainability, is therefore increasingly becoming a term used to refer to adapting to a simultaneity of critical and interrelated issues.

This is where local community initiative becomes integral. The dynamic of official versus "unofficial" attendants at the Paris talks (i.e. national delegations visa vie civil society groups excluded from observing the negotiations) cannot be echoed at the local level. Rather, grassroots knowledge and resources should play critical roles in supporting government projects, and vice versa.

One example of civil society mobilization can be seen in the work of the Brixton Community Forum (BCF), a volunteer-based NPO elected in the racially and economically diverse neighborhood of Brixton in central Johannesburg to represent and improve the area. Against the background of recent droughts and food shortages in South Africa (linked to an El Niño weather phenomenon supercharged by climate change), and in response to a city proposal to construct a water reservoir and tower upon the neighborhood’s park, ostensibly related to densification along Johannesburg’s BRT corridors, the BCF organized an event to engage all stakeholders (albeit somewhat unsuccessfully) to find ways to creatively build water-sensitive public and domestic spaces in city-identified densification zones. Part urban activism, part local social cohesion, such initiatives followed others, such as a pedestrian and public space proposal known as "Brixton Steps," accepted by the City of Johannesburg, which combines pedestrian and cycling urban infrastructure with local concerns like heritage, play, and safety. The organization also launched Alley Activation events, which simultaneously aim to build social cohesion and spatial regeneration in the disused neighborhood alleyways.

Governments should actively embrace and nurture such grassroots alternatives and opportunities for collaborative effort wherever and in whatever form they exist, while climate justice campaigners must continue to mobilize for deals less compromised by the fossil fuel industries at the global level and in their local level translations. These efforts do not absolve those most responsible, but these are times of crisis. And, as one of the civil society groups at the Paris talks put it: "If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu."

Toward a green and low-carbon Surabaya

Surabaya, 17 December 2015 — Climate change is a shared problem. Surabaya, as the second biggest city in Indonesia, is determined to create an environmentally friendly green city in cooperation with the City of Kitakyushu in Japan, which involves bringing technology transfer in four target sectors and fostering train-focused communities to create energy-saving habit. See more.

Toward a green and low-carbon Surabaya

Widya Anggraini, Surabaya Community Manager

Surabaya, 17 December 2015

For the past few years, Surabaya has been getting ready to become the Green City in 2020. As the city has rapidly developed into the second largest city in Indonesia, it is now necessary to accelerate development and to provide public facilities, such as housing, as well as transportation and economic infrastructure with good quality and sustainability. Therefore, the current city officials are developing in cooperation with the City of Kitakyushu in Japan and Kitakyushu Asian Center for Low Carbon in a program called the Low-carbon Program and Environmentally Sustainable City (ESC) Planning.

The low-carbon policy adopted by Surabaya is in line with Indonesia’s national policy, which was articulated in the mid-term Development Plan (RPJMN), Law No 32/2009 on the Environmental Protection and Management, as well as by the national commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 29% by 2030 . These national policies and commitments have translated into Surabaya’s mayor’s vision and mission that promote Surabaya as an environmentally friendly city. A number of local regulations have also been issued to support the Green City program. This commitment has been extended to collaborate with the private sector and international partners, such as Kitakyushu City.

As part of Surabaya’s effort to create the Green City, it is working with IGES Kitakyushu Urban Center to develop a program called Low Carbon and Environmentally Sustainable City Planning. This program intends to achieve four objectives: to encourage Surabaya city planning to develop low-carbon and environmentally friendly activities in the fields of energy, transportation, waste and water; to identify programs that can reduce CO2 emissions and save energy costs in the short term; to identify programs that can reduce CO2, which provides multiple benefits in the long-term, socially, economically and environmentally; and to encourage the development of data management system to measure the reduction of CO2 emissions and make CO2 measurement methodology.

The joint program with Japan has been initiated since 2011, since the issuance of the joint statement on strategic partnership for environmental issues. This partnership was followed by the cooperation of the two cities under the "Green Sister City" program in 2012, between Surabaya and Kitakyushu. There are four main target sectors: energy management, water treatment, recycling and waste management, and transportation. Each sector is collaborating with different relevant stakeholders. For example, the energy sector at the moment conducts several activities to develop a co-generation system at SIER industrial park, promoting energy saving in the offices, malls and hospitals, as well as changing street lights to LED. The main target of this program is to reduce gas emissions in the four sectors that will impact total emissions reductions to 120,000 TCO2 per year. Moreover, in order to ensure participation, this program involves many stakeholders, including central government and ministries, provincial governments, private sector, including local companies, and civil society such as universities, communities and think tanks.

The activity under joint cooperation with Kitakyushu is not only about technology transfer, but also building methodologies on how to build a green city. Therefore, capacity building is provided for stakeholders, including government and community. Training was given to government officials who manage the program and beneficiaries from the community so that they are able to utilize the technology based on local needs. The main challenge lies in the availability of resources and the behavior change of community members to be more energy efficient and environmentally conscious.Close.

Multi-faceted approach to flood control in Lagos

Lagos, 16 December 2015 — Flooding has become a serious issue in Lagos. The reason is that many parts of the city are below sea level. Sporadic rainfall and human activities of blocking free passage of water also make many areas vulnerable to floods. To address this challenge, the state government has been investing massively in drainage construction under the Road Network Efficiency Improvement (RNEI). Simultaneously, various stakeholders have been focused on sensitizing the public about the possibility of floods and the need for sound environmental safety practices. See more.

Multi-faceted approach to flood control in Lagos

Peter Adeyeye, Lagos Community Manager

Lagos, 16 December 2015

Flooding has become a perennial challenge in Lagos, leading to loss of lives and properties and negatively impacting the environment. The cause of the problem is multi-faceted. First, as a city situated along the coast, so many areas are below sea level; occasional rise in water level exposes these territories to floods. Also, the city experiences high and persistent rainfall throughout the year. This frequent rainfall becomes challenging when mixed with human activities that block free-flowing water passages through poor channelization of waterways and waste disposal over urban drains, This dangerous combination has led to the surge of incidences of floods in the city. Efforts at addressing this threat are two fold: first, appraising the state effort on urban planning and water channelization followed by exploring the collaborative roles of various stakeholders in the state in raising public consciousness on emergency preparedness and sound environmental management practices.

The Lagos state government under the Road Network Efficiency Improvement (RNEI) has been investing massively in the maintaining, upgrading, and rehabilitating of strategic road networks in the city. The project is being commissioned by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and awarded to various contractors. There are four types of road maintenance and interventions involved under the RNEI; routine, recurrent, periodic, and rehabilitation. Two of these maintenances are directly linked to flood control: the routine maintenance involves drainage clearing to reduce flooding and haulage of disposable materials, while the rehabilitation includes the reconstruction of drainage systems across the city. An example of a rehabilitation work done by the state government is the construction of drainage channels with a total length of 1,800 meters.

The Lagos State Ministry of Environment (MOE) is the government agency in charge of environmental concerns. Its vision is for "a flood-free, hygienic and beautiful Lagos." Its mandate includes “mitigation, formulation, execution and monitoring of all issues relating to climate change towards mitigating the negative impact of climate change” as well as preparation of a master plan for a drainage system in Lagos State. The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) advises the government on all environmental management policies and also carries out public enlightenment on sound methods of environmental sanitation and management. The Nigeria Metrological Agency (NiMet) produces a monthly Drought and Flood Monitoring Bulletin for each states in the country using standard indices. Their forecast serves as a guide for actors in Lagos in raising public consciousness about safety practices. The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) is the country’s agency responsible for enforcing all environmental laws and policies. The Agency has been responsible for developing environmental awareness programs across the country. In September, following the forecast by NiMet that Lagos may experience flooding, NESREA began a public sensitization on clearing of drains to prevent flooding in the city.

Though the Lagos government developed a flood control master plan under the broad "Lagos State Development Plan; 2012-2025," which aims to reduce incidence of flooding in Lagos from 40 per cent to 20 per cent by 2015 and eliminate all by 2025, as of now the plan only exist in paper. While residents of the city anticipate the implementation of the master plan, it is advisable that NGOs and other concerned stakeholders intensify their advocacy and public enlightenment on environmental sound practices to prevent future occurrence of floods. Close.

The need for clean cookstoves in Dhaka

Dhaka, 15 December 2015 — Bangladesh is highly prone to climate change, mainly due to its geographical location and a population of 150 million. The effects of climate change have already started to have a negative impact on the economic and developmental sector of the country. The government has committed to reversing this trend. One effort is the "Bondhu Chula," a project being implemented in Dhaka, especially the slum areas, to reduce levels of carbon dioxide emission as well as to decrease fuel consumption in a bid to bring down greenhouse gases levels. See more.

The need for clean cookstoves in Dhaka

Samiha Ali, Dhaka Community Manager

Dhaka, 15 December 2015

Bangladesh, one of the largest deltas in the world, is extremely vulnerable to any changes caused by global warming for a number of reasons. The country’s geographic location, population density, low-lying flat land, extreme poverty, and lack of institutional setup are some of the main causes of Bangladesh’s vulnerability. The effects of climate change, such as an increase in temperature and rise in sea levels, has already started to have a negative impact on the economic and developmental sector of the country. Every year, the country has to face natural disasters of severe magnitudes which directly affect the lifestyle and livelihood of the people of this low-lying delta, with the marginalized poor community facing the worst consequences.

The new Climate Deal of 2015 aims to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases which is the main cause of global warming. Despite being one of the smallest emitters, Bangladesh faces some of the major consequences of rising global temperature. Although Bangladesh is labeled as a Least Developed Country, the prime minister agreed to the development of sustainable Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) at the UN Climate Summit held in New York City in 2014 as a show of commitment to the new Climate Deal. The deal, which is to be signed by 196 countries at the Paris summit in December 2015, aims to keep the rise of world temperature to the threshold level of two-degree celsius by reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenhouse gases, which are primarily released from the burning of fossil fuels, build up in the atmosphere and result in an increase in temperature, ultimately resulting in global warming. In a bid to reduce the burning of fossil fuels, the Department of Environment (DoE), in collaboration with German International Cooperation (GIZ), has set a target to replace around 30 million traditional clay stove with an energy-efficient and eco-friendly stove.

The project, known as "Bondhu Chula," is currently being implemented in the slum areas of Dhaka District. In a study conducted by the DoE and GIZ, it was found that Bangladeshi households, especially those belonging to urban poor of Dhaka, burn an average of 80 million tons of biomass like wood, leaves, and agricultural waste for cooking alone. The reason why such a large quantity of fuel is required is mainly due to the inefficiency of the traditional clay stoves. On the other hand, the new low cost “Bondhu Chula” is pollution-free, hygienic and produces no smoke in the kitchen.

But perhaps its greatest feature is its fuel efficiency. The “Bondhu Chula” is anticipated to increase energy efficiency by 30 percent, and save fuel by 50 percent compared to traditional stoves. This will ultimately result in a reduction of fuel consumption, air pollution, and most importantly, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. According to the GIZ project manager, almost seven-hundred thousand “Bondhu Chula” have already been installed starting from 2006. With financial aid from India, GIZ hopes to install more 70,000 stoves in eight upazilas of Bangladesh by November 2016. The successful implementation of this project promises to have a positive outcome by reducing levels of carbon dioxide emission and fuel consumption, both drastically reducing the adverse effects of climate change. Close.

Local strategy for climate action

Mexico City, 14 December 2015 — In Mexico City, the delegation of Milpa Alta submitted a public climate action program to better understand the effects of climate change on the population to generate more effective relief strategies. See more.

Local strategy for climate action

María Fernanda Carvallo, Mexico City Community Manager

Mexico City, 14 December 2015

Climate change affects the majority of the vulnerable population living in cities. The World Bank study, "The Social Dimensions of Climate Change in Mexico" ("Las dimensiones sociales del cambio climático en México") concludes that the impacts of climate change can adversely affect the reduction of poverty by outweighing the positives that social programs have. One factor presented in the study is that variability in rainfall and temperatures impacts the revenues of municipalities that rely on natural resources; it also states that the effects of natural disasters threaten the health of the population: for example, in Milpa Alta, one of the most traditional boroughs of Mexico City, only 43 percent of the population has access to medical services that could react to and cope with dealing with natural disasters.

Therefore, reducing climate change and prevention strategies are essential to lessen the potential impacts on the population. In light of this, in 2014 the government of the Federal District signed a participation agreement to recover the Natural and Cultural World Heritage Area of Xochimilco - Tláhuac-Milpa Alta. In collaboration with the L’Agence Française de Développement au Mexique (AFD – French Agency for Development in Mexico – and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, they are seeking to contribute to regulating the atmosphere, replenishing ground water, protecting from floods, and increasing agricultural production. This initiative aligns the efforts of local government with federal and international institutions to generate a positive and sustainable impact in the region by receiving three-million euros annually for the protection and conservation of the area. Combining these resources and aligned efforts, programs for climate action are being started in the following ways: water, land use, recovering irregular settlements, sustainable development, and agriculture.

Complementing these activities at a macro level, in February 2015, the Dirección General de Medio Ambiente de la Delegación de Milpa Alta submitted a public consultation on the Programa de Acción Climática Delegacional (PACDEL – Delegational Program for Climate Action), which will attempt to diagnose the main sources of emissions of greenhouse gases and then to analyze the vulnerability of the the population and area to the effects of climate change with the aim of determining strategies and action plans for reducing the effects, adapting to them, and educating people better to handle, know about, and prevent climate change.

The climate action program hopes to systematically improve the quality of life of the population and reduce environmental, social, and economic risks. In order to understand what recurring effects the population suffers from, the consultation asked the following questions of participants:

1. Have you heard of climate change before?
2. In what context have you heard about climate change?
3. Do you know what climate change is?
4. Do you think that climate change affects Milpa Alta?
5. As a consequence of climate change, what do you think might be what most affects Milpa Alta?
6. Do you know how to contribute to lessening the effects of environmental impacts as a society in our daily lives?
7. Would you be ready to change your fuel and electricity habits to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
8. Which of the following actions do you carry out in your daily life?
9. Provide any comments or suggestions about the issue of climate change in Milpa Alta.

With the results, it is hoped that a target of locally reducing fuel consumption and disposing of solid waste by five percent should help to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.Close.

Innovative solutions to combat water insecurity

Bangalore, 11 December 2015 — Access to potable water in Bangalore is an inequitable issue, leaving many poorer residents at the mercy of the city’s 'water mafia.' Climate change has led to unpredictable and reduced rainfall in recent years and this, compounded with poor management of resources, has led to unaffordable water prices. Water Health International, with the support of US AID has tied up with the Municipal Corporation in the city to provide clean water for all the residents at an affordable cost. See more.

Innovative solutions to combat water insecurity

Ashali Bhandari, Bangalore Community Manager

Bangalore, 11 December 2015

Over the last four decades, Bangalore’s economic boom has been accompanied by a loss of over half its water bodies. No stranger to environmental perils, the city has witnessed growing air pollution, unpredictable rainfall, and rising temperatures. Yet while issues of poor air quality impact citizens uniformly, issues of water insecurity disproportionately affect poorer residents of the city.

Bangalore’s freshwater sources are declining: The Arkavathy River has been a source of freshwater for the city since the early 20th century, but today fills only 25% of its reservoir; forcing the city to look to other rivers and ground water for its water supply. Inflows from the river have reduced from 385 million litres per day to 65 million litres per day over twenty years. The Water Resource Development Organization blames climate change, specifically the decline in rainfall and rising temperatures, for the desiccation of the river. Consequently, the city has increasingly turned to ground water for its supply, but leakages from water and sewage pipes contaminate ground water, resulting in 8.4% of well water being contaminated with E. Coli bacteria. The city still fails to meet the demand for 1125 million liters per day, resulting in unreliable water supply for many of the city’s residents.

Residents of informal settlements are often excluded from access to clean drinking water. Bangalore’s infamous ‘water mafia’ deliver supplies to marginalized communities charging by the tanker at rates over five times higher than the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board. However, the pricey suppliers don’t guarantee quality and many residents complain of contamination by sewage, which falls on deaf ears. With no other alternatives, residents of informal communities have had to pay higher rates for black water and subsequently pay for the medicine to treat their water borne illnesses.

Water Health India, USAID, and the Greater Bangalore Municipal Corporation are working to combat the inequity of access to safe water supplies by setting up community water systems known as Water Health Centers. As the Municipal Corporation allocates land, Water Health India, with the support of USAID, sets up centers that provide 20 litres of affordable and clean drinking water to a minimum of 350 households a day. These centers use UV technology and a six-step process to decontaminate the water without the carbon footprint generated by boiling water. The centers also generate local employment as Water Health India trains and hires residents as the maintenance and operations team for the centers.

Earlier this year, the first center was inaugurated in Lingarajpuram with great success. Residents now pay one sixth of the artificially high prices and get cleaner water in the process. By early November, nine centers had been set up within the city and by May 2016, twenty-five centers are expected be operational. This collaborative model will be replicated to build centers in each ward of the city, providing all households with access to potable water.

Collaborative efforts such as the public-private partnership between Water Health India, USAID, and the Greater Bangalore Municipal Corporation act as a pioneer effort for sustainable ways to mitigate the effects climate change will have on poor residents of the city. Close.

The benefits of community-managed resources

Nairobi, 10 December 2015 — As is the case in a number of rapidly growing urban centers across the Global South, Nairobi’s growth has occurred in the absence of an urban development framework. This has resulted in housing production and human settlement patterns that are complex and do not meet key environmental justice or sustainable development mandates. See more.

The benefits of community-managed resource approaches

Hilary Nicole Zainab Ervin, Nairobi Community Manager

Nairobi, 10 December 2015

The urban poor are disproportionately suffering from the impacts of climate change while having at their disposal limited access to rights-based education or advocacy channels to challenge these occurrences. Working to increase accountability to the needs of climate-affected populations is a central mission of numerous local climate change and environmental justice organizations. The Institute for Law & Environmental Governance (ILEG) is working to address these environmental concerns through a local to global strategy of research, capacity building, policy formulation, and project implementation.

ILEG has undertaken a Gap Analysis on how to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) through a conservation and sustainable management approach that nests communities as key agents of stewardship. Deforestation in the Mau Forest region has the potential to increase violent conflicts in the region as this area serves as a catchment basin for the Nile River, and as a result, is a key international water resource with far-reaching implications if managed improperly. As highlighted by ILEG in their REDD+ Gap Analysis, it is critical that the Government of Kenya take seriously the formulation of laws and policies that protect and conserve remaining forests while also working to improve local livelihoods.

However, for many poor households clearing land for small-scale agriculture projects and conversion to cooking fuels are critical sources of income and resources. Further, residents whose tenements occupy space on privately owned land live in a state of constant insecurity. Housing development often takes place alongside poor communities; however, they are rarely allowed the space to contribute to, or consult on, these projects. One of Nairobi’s greatest environmental challenges, and area of much innovation, centers on improved access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities. This is also a climate justice issue, as the individuals lacking access tend to also be disproportionally affected by raw, open sewage in their communities and inadequate basic health facilities.

For example, a new housing project alongside the informal settlement of Jam City in Machakos County, roughly 17 kilometers from Nairobi town center, was built squarely in a flood plain. Jam City residents had purposefully built their houses of corrugated iron and sheet metal just outside of this plain, and in response to a lack of improved sanitation facilities they dug pit latrines. The new apartment complex was constructed directly in the flood plain and the developers built a wall around the property, which diverted floodwaters directly to Jam City. As a result, residents of Jam City have suffered increased mortality associated from drowning when the floods occur, as well as increased rates of morbidity associated with water-borne illnesses such as malaria and numerous diarrheal diseases.

Social justice initiatives and environmental advocacy groups have worked to target these glaring inequalities that are further exacerbated by climate change. As urban development continues to visibly increase inequalities in access and affordability of improved housing and sanitation infrastructure it is critical that communities are incorporated in decisions making and accounted for in planning practice. Though Kenya has adopted a number of climate centered initiatives these policy documents have not yet been widely implemented. As Kenya works towards its first comprehensive climate sensitive national environmental policy, it is critical that communities are included as active participants in this process. The Institute works to ensure these objectives are mainstreamed in the planning and implementation of a national action strategy. Close.

Key data for more adaptive responses to climate change

Jakarta, 9 December 2015 — Jakarta is one of the most vulnerable cities to climate change in Asia. It is prone to disasters; hence, the city should have a system that is capable of assessing its level of vulnerability. A system called SIDIK has been developed to assist the government in designing a climate change adaptation plan. See more.

Key data for more adaptive responses to climate change

Widya Anggraini, Jakarta Community Manager

Indonesia is categorized as highly vulnerable to the threat of climate change and global warming. The archipelago country with a long coastline has a high dependency on natural resources. The impact of global warming is increasing with a high frequency of natural disasters, rising sea levels, damaged biodiversity, decrease in water resources, longer dry seasons, and changing patterns of rainfall. Meanwhile, Jakarta, compared to other cities in Southeast Asia, is the most vulnerable place to the impacts of climate change.

The Indonesian government has been focusing more closely on adaptation due to vulnerability of climate change. In 2014, the National Planning Board ("Bappenas") launched the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan ("RAN API") as a guideline to mainstream climate change adaptation. RAN API has been integrated into the Mid-term National Development Plan (RPJMN) 2014-2019. In the meantime, the Indonesian "Ministry of Environment" is preparing several instruments for climate change adaptation, including what we called as "SIDIK" or SIVIC (System Inventory for Vulnerability Index of Climate Change). This system is expected to improve policy and adaptation programs to be more precise. SIDIK has been implemented since 2013 to monitor the levels of vulnerability as well as to assess the effectiveness of current climate change adaptation policies.

SIDIK was designed to measure the level of vulnerability to weather changes. This instrument can be applied from villages to the national level. SIDIK generates information such as index that shows the ability to address climate changes; a quadrant system shows vulnerability as a combination of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptability. This information could be used to compare vulnerability levels between villages, cities, or provinces. The result of the system is shown in a map showing Exposure and Sensitivity Index (IKS), Adaptive Capability Index (IKA), and vulnerability.

SIDIK will require users to input data for further processing and produce an expected output. The data is relevant statistical data from village/neighborhood levels to the national level as well as data of extreme rainfall. SIDIK then processes the data by first defining the indicators and determining the scope of the analysis. To understand the potential of flooding and drought, there are four important outputs of SIDIK: the sensitivity and exposure index, the adaptive capacity index), the coping range index and climate risk.

Data produced from SIDIK will determine priority areas for the climate change adaptation (CCA), disaster risk reduction (DRR), and climate change mitigation efforts. Once the data is available, mitigation areas need to be decided using a participatory process that involves NGOs, the private sector, and government. Jakarta City’s government has used and adopted the results of SIDIK. They now establish a task force to facilitate multi-stakeholder work to design and implement an integrated program within CCA, DRR, and mitigation efforts. The strategic plan that resulted from the multi-stakeholder forum will be included in yearly development plans.

Although the system has helped decision makers, there are a few flaws that need continuous improvement, especially in adding more sensitive and adaptive indicators. Moreover, there is also challenge in the cooperation between institutions so that the result of SIDIK can be used as reference in joint decision-making. Close.

Earthquakes and poverty in Tehran

Tehran, 8 December 2015 — Tehran is associated with many environmental threats, such as drought and air pollution. But one of the most dangerous challenges are earthquakes. We are faced with increasing incidences of natural disasters due to climate change around the world, and as a result, there is a major concern for the accident-prone country of Iran and Tehran city. See more.

Earthquakes and poverty in Tehran

Maryam Amiri, Tehran Community Manager

Tehran, 8 December 2015

Tehran is associated with many environmental threats, such as drought and air pollution. But one of the most dangerous challenges are earthquakes. We are faced with increasing incidences of natural disasters due to climate change around the world, and as a result, there is a major concern for the accident-prone country of Iran and Tehran city.

Tehran, with a population of about eight million people, is located in the “Integrated Seismic Hazard Mapping,” according to the “Seismic Hazard Zonation Mapping” of the country. However, the latest studies in this area date back to 20 years ago. This study predicts that there is a possibility of deaths of 400,000 people were an earthquake to hit Tehran.

Earthquake damage to this city will not be the same everywhere. Places of residence are quite distinct for various social and income classes in Tehran. Generally speaking, the rich live in the north of the city, and low-income groups are settling in the south. This social segregation becomes more entrenched every day. Accordingly, houses in the south of Tehran have the least possible resistance against disaster, and may readily collapse in the event of even a weak earthquake. Also, these areas are highly dense and lack open spaces. Moreover, the road network is commonly non-standard in southern Tehran neighborhoods and the Rescue & Relief forces cannot be present immediately in crisis. These factors lead to the fear that a humanitarian catastrophe may occur in the poor neighbourhoods of Tehran in the event of an earthquake.

This concern prompted the Tehran Municipality in 2005 to investigate deteriorated areas in Tehran. In that year, the Master Plan was approved and a special program was created to address this issue. Next, a formal office was established in each of these neighborhoods (about 50 neighborhoods in total) that would facilitate running programs through interaction with residents and attracting their participation to renovate their homes. Financial incentives, such as mortgage loans, were considered to encourage residents to renovate their houses. But the efforts have been mainly to reduce the population density by creating more open spaces and redesigning houses with very low areas. For example, four houses with lower than 50 square meters are incentivized to convert to a four-floor, 200 square-meter house; if they do, an extra floor is the "gift" of local government, which is often the contribution of the investor.

However, the municipality’s approach is not perfect. First, one of the municipal incentives for renovation and readjustment is granting the residents an additional density and exempting them from the provision of sufficient parking. In fact, this is a violation of the Detailed Design and maintains the density of neighborhoods at high levels. Moreover, receiving renovation loans for residents who are poorer than others and lack the initial conditions for receiving loans are impossible. On the other hand, the new houses being built do not necessarily have the necessary safety standards.

In conclusion, despite public anxiety caused by the great danger that threatens all the inhabitants of Tehran, the concern among the city's poor people is more than others. The municipality’s solutions have not been encouraging so far. Perhaps a short-term solution is to increase the Rescue & Relief equipment in these areas. However, in the long-term, policies that minimize segregation of social classes can minimize environmental threats as well.Close.

Collective action toward a sustainable future

Rio de Janeiro, 7 December 2015 — Joining efforts is as important as creating laws and rules to create real environmental and social impact. This article, get to know two institutions that confirm this statement, promoting the conservation of the Atlantic Forest, the second most-threatened biome on the planet. Both organizations can serve as a good example to discussions at COP 21, which this month will set global guidelines to curb greenhouse gas emissions and avoid environmental disasters. See more.

Collective action toward a sustainable future

Andréa Azambuja, Rio de Janeiro Community Manager

Rio de Janeiro, 7 December 2015

The recent environmental disaster due to the collapse of two dams in Minas Gerais illustrates the descrustiveness of capitalism: in face of profit, human and environmental resources will always be despised. Brutally exploited, especially in the 20th century, the Atlantic Forest, which originally stretched across 17 states in Brazil, is a former emblem of this reality. Despite approximately 70% of the population depending on its preservation, only 7.84% of the biome still exists in the country.

The situation illustrates the surplus value system: a system that causes the damage and then remedies it. And it is with this purpose that, this month, representatives from nearly 200 countries are meeting at the UN Conference on Climate (COP 21). They are setting global guidelines to curb greenhouse gas emissions and avoid disasters like those that have been causing severe damage to the Earth in recent years.

Although events like this are fertile fields for rhetoric and advocacy, they often have innocuous results, such as the Kyoto Protocol, which the new agreement will replace. Some organizations use them as weapons in their particular battles. This applies to RMA, Rede de ONGs da Mata Atlântica ("Atlantic Forest NGO Network"), which, like COP 21, was conceived during the UN Earth Summit, or Rio+20.

RMA is a collective organization representing more than 300 entities of the Atlantic Forest protection, a mobilization network with coordinated policy action and mutual support. Structured around a General Assembly and a National Coordination unit, it articulates and monitors actions with public authorities, takes charge of complaints and emergencies, replicates conservation models, guides NGOs that are being created, develops mechanisms for social participation and offers operational support in general (from the disclosure of associates to document sharing). It also represents the interests of members in discussions on a federal level, at international events (such as COP), closely follows key decisions and works out strategies to apply them, especially when it comes to pressuring governments to take action.

One of the 26 NGOs in Rio de Janeiro that integrates RMA is ITPA, Instituto Terra de Preservação Ambiental ("Earth Institute of Environmental Protection"), based in the capital. The organization operates in three areas: climate, biodiversity and water; generation of work and income; and social and public policy mobilization. After implementing pilot projects, they seek to link them to sectoral policies. Among numerous initiatives, through carbon credits and fire fighting, ITPA performs important agroecology programs.

One example is Agricultura Familiar em Faixas de Dutos ("Family Farming in Ducts Tracks"), implemented in 2009 in the metropolitan area with the help of Transpreto, which provided more than 100,000 square meters of organic vegetables in pipeline stretches, planted and managed by families of the surroundings, many of them then below the poverty line. The products, which were a result of a model that preserves natural areas of forest (agriculture is a significant villain in deforestation), began to supply schools, markets and hundreds of families in the region, now with a fixed income source. The evolution of the project was so great that today it is self-managed by the Family Farming and Organic Products Cooperative UNIVERDE without any incentives or technical support, even for training new professionals.

Deforestation in the Atlantic Forest fell by 24% in 2013 to 2014, compared to the period 2012 to 2013, and has been showing favorable rates since a few years ago. Certainly RMA and ITPA were, and are, essential to this accomplishment, because joining efforts is as important as creating laws and rules to define environmental and social benefits. That's the only way the problems (and real possibilities) can be truly undertood and, consequently, solved. That's were COP 21 potential lies, if it is to be taken seriously. Close.

New GIS warning system saves Chittagong from landslides

Chittagong, 4 December 2015 — High CO2 emissions and illegal cutting of hills have been contributing to regular landslides in Chittagong city. Migrants from different parts of the country move into Chittagong with the hope of better job opportunities. But high expenditure of city life leads them to live in hills of the city – an area that has turned out to be quite dangerous. A new web-based GIS Warning System initiative has the potential to improve the safety of residents in these areas with a more sophisticated tracking system that connects to key authorities. See more.

New GIS warning system saves Chittagong from landslides

Daina Maliat, Chittagong Community Manager

Chittagong, 4 December 2015

Global warming has led to the alteration of the sand quality in the Chittagong hills – an area long prone to landslides. Global climate change adds to Chittagong’s natural disasters, and puts its citizens at great risk. Since the birth of industrialization, emission of carbon dioxide gas has increased, confining heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. Excessive heat causes increasing evaporation of water from Bangladesh’s uncountable lakes, ponds and rivers, as well as the surrounding sea. Increasing hill cutting also causes significant negative impact on the rise of landslides in Chittagong city. Landslide damages property and most severely effects the poor inhabitants of Chittagong city living on the Motijhorna, Batali Hill, Golpahar and the countless other hills of Bayezid Bostami. It destructs both the climate and vulnerable minority of hills of Chittagong Metropolitan Area (CMA).

Landslide warnings were generally imparted through loud speakers for a few hours during floods or heavy rains. Due to the loud sound of rainfall and the time limitation, they had negligible significance. To address the issue, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) established a project based on Web Geographic Information System (GIS) in 2014 to develop the landslide information system with the help of the Japan Institute of Disaster Prevention (JIDPUS). The administration for the project is the International Service for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) under the SEVIR-Himalayan initiative.

The dynamic Web GIS-based early warning system project hosts the early warning system of possible landslides of Chittagong city on its website. Collections of rainfall predictions are stored first. According to the rainfall estimation, the website sends warnings of landslides five days before the probable catastrophe to the registered subscribers. The site also records precipitation data for the last 30 days using maps. User-friendly reports on slope stability, rainfall pattern analysis, soil investigation, web GIS warnings and community vulnerability are also stored in the site. Chittagong City Corporation, the Department of Fire Service and the Department of Environment Chittagong are subscribers to the site; they are also the primary rapid rescuers for any landslide that takes place in the metro area.

The field study of the project figured out that victims of regular landslides are migrants who come from other cities in the country. They settle in the city, nurturing the hope of finding better jobs and shelter. But the reality of expensive housing costs transforms their living standard. Consequently, they start living in the informal and unstable settlements of the hills that Chittagong has in plenty. The BUET-JIDPUS early warning system for landslides allows authorities to reach out to vulnerable communities living on the CMA hills.

Initiatives such as GIS-based warning system should be encouraged and implemented more to develop the landslide situation of CMA, its marginalized urban community, and the environment. Close.

Climate Change and Cali: An interview with the Mayor Rodrigo Guerrero

Cali, 3 December 2015 — Cali is particularly vulnerable to climate change. It’s mayor, Rodrigo Guerrero, is aware of this problem and has created several initiatives to mitigate its effects. Among these measures are the relocation of 7,500 families located in a highly vulnerable area, the implementation of training programs in schools, and the improvement of the drainage systems.See more.

Climate Change and Cali: An interview with the Mayor Rodrigo Guerrero

Jorge Bela, Cali Community Manager

Cali’s location makes it particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The city government sees climate change as a complex natural phenomenon, influenced by human behavior. Although its causes are complex, its effects can be detected by the use of computational models. Cali’s mayor, Rodrigo Guerrero, answered URB.im’s questions regarding this issue.

What are the biggest risks for Cali regarding climate change?

Cali is exposed to risks due to flooding, earthquakes, landslides and fires. Two-and-a-half million inhabitants are subjected to one or more of these risks. Risk is defined as the result of multiplying hazard by vulnerability.

What are the most important municipal initiatives undertaken in Cali to mitigate these risks?

1. Relocation of 7,500 families in the border of the Cauca River, in an area known as the Jarillón (an elevated rock formation). This formation presents a risk of fracturing, which would affect about 80% of the population in the area, and generate economic losses of 7.2 billion COP.

2. The mapping of the 12 different seismic areas in Cali. This map determines the building requirements for each of the areas, depending on their vulnerability.

3. he creation of the Secretaría de la Gestión del Riesgo (Office for Risk Management) in order to coordinate and strengthen the initiatives launched to minimize the impact of climate change in the city.

4. The development of a systematic handling of wastewater and runoff water in order to keep all the drainage systems clear in order to prevent flooding and deluges.

5. On-hundred percent of public schools received equipment and training necessary for fire and smoke detection, as well as evacuation procedures.

6. A network of 14 accelerometers were installed to detect in real time any unusual movements in the soil.

7. Development of a close coordination protocol with the national risk management organization. The municipal and national units can work as a team in the prevention and mitigation of natural and man-made disasters.

What are the most relevant long-term plans?

To continue in advancing the initiatives already mentioned, increasing the focus in coordinating and finding synergies between the different departments. Risk management must be included in every plan, program or project undertaken by the city. Effort should be distributed in improving the knowledge and awareness: 10% should be for mitigation, and 10% for response and recovery.

Often, the poorer communities suffer in greater proportion the negative effects of climate change. How has Cali’s municipal government given voice to these communities so they can share their concerns regarding this issue?

It is quite clear that there is a worldwide pattern of association between the greatest risks and the poorest communities. Cali has been working in breaching the gap, through training and evacuation simulations, the distribution of safety equipment (fire extinguisher, smoke and gas detectors, protective gear, etc.) and the installation of urban equipment. Furthermore, the communities are given the opportunity to prioritize the risk mitigation projects to be implemented in each municipal project. Close.

Community mapping for flood resilience and accountability

Dar es Salaam, 2 December 2015 — Policies to tackle climate change issues in Tanzania remain largely great on paper, with limited implementation in practice. A Dar es Salaam-based university has set out to bring some ground responses alive. It has partnered to set up an Open Street Map for Flooding Resilience. Students and local community members have been trained on how to map out their wards – and the projects results could have a significant impact on community-led responses to building climate resiliency.See more.

Community mapping for flood resilience and accountability

Gemma Todd, Dar es Salaam Community Manager

Tanzania has taken several steps for progressing towards sustainable cities. The 1992 Sustainable Cities Program for Dar es Salaam emphasized sustainability as one of the key elements to drive urban poverty reduction. In 1997, the National Environmental Policy built on this ideology. Sustainable development and the environment were seen as interlinked to well-being; therefore, environmental protection and conservation tied into social and economic development. Systems have been set up to manage, improve, and incentivize, local government authorities’ capacities to manage the urban environment and development, such as the Urban Development and Environmental Management (UDEM)). The UDEM framework emphasizes the need to improve how the environment is used and engaged with by its urban dwellers, but also reduces the pressures placed on the environment.

However, who dominates the climate change and sustainable agenda discourse? The Government of Tanzania, UN-Habitat and UNDP created the Sustainable Dar es Salaam Project. Policies created by the government remain largely great on paper, with limited implementation in practice. Additionally, plans aiming to reduce climate risk (i.e. Strategic Urban Development Planning Framework 1992, which identified new laws for flood prone areas and proposed families to relocate) remain disengaged from the reality of limited access to solutions, such as alternative land, housing, and space for city dwellers.

However, a recent collaborative project between the Government of Tanzania, the University of Dar es Salaam, Ardhi University, international bodies, and communities is leading to an innovative response for enhancing flooding adaptation and preparedness. During the rainy seasons, flooding has a significant socio-economic impact in some of Dar es Salaam’s residential areas. Following heavy rainfall in April 2014, 20,000 people were affected across the city, 19 deaths reported, 10,000 left without shelter, and infrastructure remained damaged.

The university has partnered to set up an Open Street Map for Flooding Resilience. Students and local community members were trained on how to map out their wards. The areas are then surveyed with drainage mapped to identify areas prone to floods, and cholera outbreaks. The maps are a basis for accountability and action. The maps provide communities with information, and a picture of what or where the risks area. This provides communities with the ability to challenge Local Government Authorities and planners to gain accountability, protection, and alternatives. With the rainy seasons due to start, it will be interesting to monitor the impact these maps will make and the discourse they raise.

For national response and preparedness to climate change, a participatory discourse is essential. Local communities need to be at the center for implementing the projects, designing interventions, and adapting. The public needs to understand how the climate is changing, its impact on their socio-environments, and the impact of their unsustainable practices. More needs to be done by national governments not to simply redesign an adaptive, resilient environment for people; but rather people need to be involved in the process from start to end. More information is needed for citizens and city dwellers; more practices are needed whereby communities can define the risks faced and demand responsiveness. Several steps have been made, however, gaps remain to mainstream climate change and responsiveness.Close.

Student groups and a radio program help flood control in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, 1 December 2015 — HCMC citizens are all familiar with a contemporary joke saying that the city has done so well on flood control that from hundreds of flooding hotspots a few years ago, now there is only one left: the whole city. In this article, we will focus on the continuous efforts of the HCMC Steering Center of the Urban Flood Control Program to act before flood damages are irreversible. See more.

Student groups and a radio program help flood control in Ho Chi Minh City

Tam Nguyen, Ho Chi Minh City Community Manager

During two consecutive nights on September 15 and 16, 2015, HCMC citizens witnessed the worst flood in years after unceasing rainfall. Many districts, especially the ones located out of the city’s most developed center, were flooded until the next day. In addition to the consequences of home damages, giant traffic jams as well as loss of workdays and schooldays, a number of people and especially children were injured and killed.

Climate change combined with unplanned urbanization

According to Dr. Ho Long Phi, an expert in HCMC flood control, the rise in sea level due to climate change is causing disastrous flooding. But it is not the only cause. Rapid urbanization combined with the lack of flood control facilities, badly designed building practices for concreted houses, over-concretizing the soil foundation, over-littering down the drain and inner-city canals are another set of causes.

Even worse, with mitigation investments focused mainly on the city center, the flooding burden now seems to have shifted from the developed center to the less-wealthy districts of the city, where most of the urban poor live.

However, the story of flood control in HCMC is not all gloomy. A few long-term and efficient measures were initiated, the HCMC Steering Center of The Urban Flood Control Program being one of them. Established in 2008, the Center has the function of advising and assisting the city government in drainage and flood control programs and projects.

Flood control by education

The Center has been quite active in carrying out its goal, with several projects developed annually. For instance, in 2015 a youth project to improve the environment of inner-city canals and to reduce flooding was initiated. With the aim of collecting stagnated garbage, grass, hyacinth and dredging inner-city canals, the project attracted 1,200 youth to join during the month of implementation, many of whom were university students. Projects such as this one can create large impacts with minimum financial investment. Rather than money, the project utilized the passionate volunteer urban youth while also educating them.

Another note-worthy effort has been the Center’s long-term awareness raising project, incorporting a thematic radio program on flood control with various study tours for students to the Binh Hung waste processing factory, built in one suburban district of the city. In 2014, 27 tours with more than 1,000 students were organized to show young students the urgency of flooding issues in their own city and to foster in them the concern for solutions. While policymaking and physical campaigns are very important in flood control, as in tackling all urban issues, educational measures are of utmost importance. By approaching the future generations, educational measures prepare the brain power and the human resources to tackle the problem with solutions more effective than the current scattered work.Close.

Join the discussion for this month's topic!

Comments

the informal settlement of high risk areas by the lowest income families is a constant in the new south. Relocation, as it is being done in Cali, is the only long term solution. However, I am intrigued by the early warning system that you describe. Is it already in operation? Do people pay attention and move to safer ground once the alert is triggered?

Flooding is a major risk in many cities around the world, and I was very interested in the solutions implemented in Ho Chi Minh City. I come from Paris (France) and during my studies I learnt about various cities at risk of flooding, such as Shanghai... However, many more cities that are still not affected ara also at risk. Paris is a good example: we can expect a major flooding of the Seine River that could affect up to 5 million residents in the greater Paris area and cause up to 30 billion euros worth of damage. However, no one knows about it, parisians are clearly unprepared... Hopefully we can learn from cities that have already suffered from flood disasters and have shown resilience.

Great article! What an interesting way to integrate technology with disaster mitigation efforts! Are the subscribers to the platform mainly city institutions? Or do local residents receive these notices as well? Have there been any landslides in the last year that have tested the system?

Dear Gemma,
firstly, nice picture choice, it is very flowing and seems as real, so great selection indeed!
Secondly, as I am also speaking from one of the African countries-Egypt- I wonder how the mapping project is used by the illiterate or people with low level of education. We have high percentage of illiteracy in Egypt, and such project if replicated will be used generally on academic level. May you elaborate on this? Is the mapping project available for all natives or for how the nation holistically trained to use it?
Best regards,

Thank you for your comment and great to hear about experiences in Egypt! I think you raise a very good question, and much needed.

The mapping is open to all community members, it is advertised online and across universities and is being conducted in the actual communities (mappers attending designated areas) or in computer rooms of universities. When it is advertised online, different community members are invited to map a area of Dar es Salaam, it says they do not need to know the specific GIS tools as there will be assistance provided.

Maybe two things to mention: they are providing training within communities so they themselves can be involved in the mapping; and they are inviting a broad audience, whom are not necessarily GIS trained. However, who participates comes back to the question of education and illiteracy. The advertising is online - therefore computer literacy is key to be able to be aware of the mapping exercise, it may also seem exclusive to computer literate people, therefore excluding members of the community whom may otherwise have participated. I can see in there recent call for mapping a area of Dar es Salaam they say people can help with mapping wherever they are, they just need to log in online. This makes it more open - however, you need to be able to access a computer.

The main mappers are students and young people - either training in this field or whom wish to receive training. But the idea is inviting participation across the nation and community members. A lot more needs to be done however to ensure everyone who wants to participate can, and all are aware of the opportunity to participate in mapping Dar es Salaam.

Daina, great article about the alert system for people in risk at the hills, it is really interesting that people can have previous information in order to prevent damage. I have the same question as Jorge, if people can go to another settlement while the risk passes? If the settlement is damaged, other programs exist in order to help people?

Great article, thank you very much for it. I was really shocked when I read The Independent article you shared and found out that around 32,000 children and 14,000 women die every year now by inhaling smokes from the traditional clay-cooking stoves.
This project that, as you pointed out, can reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in a great deal and consequently protect the lifestyle and livelihood of millions of people (specially the marginalized poor communities) can instantly save lifes, by directly creating a safer environment for the families. Its also interesting that the use of 'Bondhu Chula' can “save up to 90 percent fuel cost of a family benefiting them in many ways, including cooking time” - another benefits that certainly make a lot of difference in their lives. It seems to be a great project in many angles, right?´Than you again for sharing this :)

Dear Mukta,
An interesting piece commending the informal sector. I was fascinated about your topic not only because the informal waste recyclers constitute the thrust of E-waste management in Lagos but also because I did a study assessing E-waste Management system in Lagos in 2014 using a value chain analysis. From the study, because of the technicalities and the huge finance needed for effective e-waste management, the informal recyclers uses crude technology and most of their activities (including dismantling and burning of E-waste) have dire consequences on human health and the environment. I will like to know more about their activities in Delhi, can they manage the waste efficiently? Just like the recommendation made in the study, I totally agree with you that government needs to empower the informal sector. Thanks